A statement hailing “with satisfaction” the adoption on first reading at the recently concluded Ecumenical Council in the Vatican of the Catholic Church declaration absolving the Jews of the charge of deicide–and lauding “the dedicated leadership” at the Council of Paul-Emile Cardinal Leger, archbishop of Montreal–was issued here today by the executive committee of the Canadian Jewish Congress.
The CJC noted that Cardinal Leger’s “spirit of liberalism, in concert with like-minded colleagues from other parts of the world,” had influenced the Council’s adoption of the declaration. “Jews of the world,” the CJC executive stated, “note with satisfaction the action of the Ecumenical Council. Upon promulgation of the declaration, the Catholic Church will have made an historic contribution to the advancement of harmonious relations among the peoples of the great faiths, will mark the continuation of a process that will contribute to the effective elimination of anti-Semitism, and will lead to better understanding among all peoples.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.